Earth Day 2024: Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay Is Teeming With Wildlife
This summer, Disney Cruise Line will have an all-new destination when Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point opens.
According to Disney, the new port will celebrate the “rich culture and natural beauty of The Bahamas.”
With today being Earth Day, Disney decided to shed some light on the unique animals and plant species that guests will meet at this magical cruise destination.
100 Species of Birds
At Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, guests will visit the home of more than 100 bird species. Among these are the Kirtland’s warbler (left in the photo below) and the thick-billed viero (right). According to Disney, guests may also see the gray and white piping plovers on the shoreline.
In order to prepare for guests’ arrival at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney conducted a bird monitoring program to help identify where the island’s native wildlife calls home. They will continue to monitor the birds as guests arrive later this year!
Giant Barrel Sponges??
During the development of Lighthouse Point, Disney discovered almost 50 giant barrel sponges off the coast of Disney Lookout Cay.
To protect the sponges, along with the corals and other marine habitats, Disney designed an “innovative open-trestle pier” that extends deep into the waters.
The pier helps ships avoid dredging the ocean floor and damaging the invertebrates. Disney relocated the Barrel Sponges, which were located within the footprint of the pier, using an invention from EPCOT’s costuming team. The group designed an innovative mesh carrier to transport the sponge.
Under the Sea
In total, in the waters off Lookout Cay, Disney has been able to identify 74 species of fish and more than 60 other species of marine life.
Among the fish that guests may be able to sport are silversides, Nassau grouper, parrot fish, and blue tangs.
In order to help these sea creatures “just keep swimming,” Disney added special features under the open-trestle pier. These include artificial reefs.
The Crabs of Lookout Cay
Back on land, Disney Lookout Cat is home to a plethora of crabs, including ghost crabs, black crabs, and black-backed crabs. If you plan on visiting, keep your eyes open!
As these crabs are both abundant and crucial to the island, Disney has been tagging the crabs to learn about their natural behaviors. Their study will be the first of its kind in The Bahamas.
Disney’s Commitment to Conservation
Last but certainly not least, Disney Lookout Cay is home to nearly 200 species of plants, from evergreen forests and open-water ponds to mangroves and more.
To preserve the vegetation, Disney has intentionally only developed about 16% of the land. The majority of this land has been demarcated for low-density uses like beach chairs and umbrellas. In order to preserve the environment of the areas they developed, Imagineers created elevated walkways and structures to reduce the impact on the natural environment.
Disney also partnered with a local Bahamian plant nursery to conserve native plants.
To learn more about Disney’s conservation efforts, visit DisneyPlanetPossible.com
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